• In a survey conducted by Air Help, Rajiv Gandhi International Airport of Hyderabad has been ranked as the world’s 8th Best Airport. 

• The airports were rated on the basis of time performance, service quality and food & shopping options. 

• Air Help is an organization which is specialized in air traveler rights and seeks compensation in cases of delays or cancellations of flights.

• According to the ranking, Qatar Airways topped the list for the second consecutive year. It is followed by American Airlines, Aeromexico, SAS Scandinavian Airlines and Qantas.

• The worst performing airlines were Ryanair, Korean Air, Kuwait Airways, the United Kingdom’s (UK) EasyJet and Thomas Cook Airlines.

• According to the annual rating from AirHelp, The New Jersey Hub was ranked as the worst airport in U.S for the year 2019. 

• The highest-rated Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport was ranked 34th  and Newark was at the lowest U.S. spot, at 116.

 

 

1. Hamad International Airport, Qatar (DOH)

2. Tokyo International Airport, Japan (HND)

3. Athens International Airport, Greece(ATH)

4. Afonso Pena International Airport, Brazil (CWB)

5. Gdansk Lech Wasa Airport, Poland (GDN)

6. Sheremetyevo International Airport, Russia (SVO)

7. Changi Airport Singapore, Singapore (SIN)

8. Rajiv Gandhi International Airport, India (HYD)

9. Tenerife North Airport, Spain (TFN)

10. Viracopos/Campinas International Airport, Brazil (VCP)

 

 

1. London Gatwick Airport, United Kingdom (LGW)

2. Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport, Canada (YTZ)

3. Porto Airport, Portugal (OPO)

4. Paris Orly Airport, France (ORY)

5. Manchester Airport, United Kingdom (MAN)

6. Malta International Airport, Malta (MLA)

7. Henri CoandaInternational Airport, Romania (OTP)

8. Eindhoven Airport, Netherlands (EIN)

9. Kuwait International Airport, Kuwait (KWI)

10. Lisbon Portela Airport, Portugal (LIS)

 

 

• India is digitising faster than almost every other country.

• Roti, kapda, makaan … and internet – is now the updated version of an Indian’s bare necessities of life

• Supreme Court even granted Indians the internet as a fundamental right.

• 40% growth in internet users expected in the next five years.

• Absence of connectivity for 65% of the country

• Worrisome challenges on infrastructure readiness and shortcomings in policy approaches

• Inadequate progress to implement the policy items.There is much to be done – India needs humongous investments and critical infrastructure to realise our true potential as future leaders in digital communications.

• India’s mobile broadband speeds are only about one-third the global average of 23.6 Mbps (EY).

• With regard to fixed broadband speeds, India ranks a low 67 in the world (according to Speedtest Global Index).

• High broadband speeds are required to extract maximum economic benefits from broadband and reduce the quality issues that plague us.

• Only 7% of our country has internet through fixed-line connections (TRAI). The world average is 46%.

• Top quality downloads at high speeds with minimum delay need fixed-line internet. Mobile internet cannot shoulder this burden alone.

• India’s mobile broadband is crunched at over 90% utilisation. The international best practice is 60-70% to ensure a high quality with next-generation services.

• India has to augment resources to enhance its mobile broadband capacity. One reason for the capacity crunch is the limited broadband spectrum allocation.

• As much as 40% of unused spectrum is lying idle at unrealistically high reserve prices that inhibit spectrum take-up. Enormous value loss to the economy.

• Consumers, businesses and individuals only get limited access to high-quality, high-speed fixed-line internet, thus hindering productivity. If reformed, we can create 60-65 million jobs across sectors by 2025 (according to McKinsey).

• National Digital Communications Policy (NDCP 2018) gazette-notified recently has outlined a clear way forward with goals to fiberise India, improve spectrum usage and satellite communications, and get 5G-ready. (Need effective implementation)

 

 

• BharatPe - India`s first Fintech start-up enabling payments for merchants through interoperable UPI QR codes, has announced its foray into merchant services with a new app.

• The app allows merchants to record their cash/credit (Udhar) sales customer wise, request accounts receivable from customers via SMS payment links, and keep track of accounts payable to suppliers, among other services.

• The BharatPe app also serves as a networking platform for merchants to connect with other BharatPe merchants near them.

 

 

• The Supreme Court has asked for the Centre`s response on a plea seeking guidelines to regulate the functioning of online media streaming platforms like Netflix and Amazon Prime Video. 

• In an appeal challenging the February order of the Delhi High Court, an NGO alleged that online platforms are displaying unlicenced, unregulated, uncertified content and collecting subion amounts from Indian consumers. 

• A bench of Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi and Justice Sanjiv Khanna has issued notices to the ministries of Information & broadcasting, law and communications, on the issue.

• Earlier, the Delhi high court had rejected the petition by the NGO, after the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting had informed it that online platforms are not required to obtain any licence from it.

 

 

• The Chhattisgarh police has deployed first ever Anti-Naxal women’s commando unit named ‘Danteshwari Ladake’ or ‘Fighters of Goddess Danteshwari’. These women commandos have inducted in the District Reserve Guard (DRG) which is Chhattisgarh’s frontline anti-naxal force.

• This specially raised squad was part of the security forces “short action teams” which inducted in the state’s Naxal-hit Dantewada district.

• The unit comprised of 30 women commandos which led by Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Dineshwari Nand. Out of these 30 women commandos, 10 are surrendered women Naxals and 10 are assistant constables, part of anti-naxal movement Salwa Judum.

• The squad had been trained in jungle warfare tactics like motorcycle patrolling in the dense forest, map reading, understanding Naxal profiles and counter ambush strategy. They got extensive training for 3 months.

 

 

• India and Bangladesh in a meeting agreed to jointly produce the film based on the life and works of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and documentary of Bangladesh Liberation War 1971. 

• The delegation from Bangladesh side led by Dr. Gowher Rizvi, Adviser to Prime Minister of Bangladesh met Amit Khare, Secretary of Information and Broadcasting Ministry.  

• The co-production of film was earlier announced by the PM of both India and Bangladesh.

• The movie will be directed by Shyam Benegal and the scriptwriter of the movie will be Atul Tiwari and the director of the documentary will be from Bangladesh who would be assisted by a co-director from India.

• Additionally, Prasar Bharti has decided to carry Bangladesh TV on DD Free Dish platform and also to waive carriage fees.

• Bangladesh delegation also agreed to launch Doordarshan channel in DTH platform of Bangladesh.

 

 

• The portals of Badrinath Shrine have been thrown open early this morning amid chants of Vedic Hymns. 

• Governor Baby Rani Maurya performed Pooja Archana on the auspicious occasion. 

• A large number of devotees were also present. 

• The Char Dham Yatra has started in full swing in Uttarakhand after the opening of Badrinath temple.

• The excitement was visible among the devotees as they started forming queues since midnight.

 

 

• The 158th birth anniversary of Rabindra Nath Tagore is being celebrated all over West Bengal.

• Various programmes have been organised to pay respect to Gurudev Tagore. The day began with musical soirees, probhat ferry and garlanding statues and potraits of Tagore.

• Our Kolkata Correspondent reports that streams of people have converged at Jorasnko Thakurbari the birth place of Rabindra Nath.

• The West Bengal Government has organised a special musical programme in Kolkata this afternoon to pay tributes to Gurudev Tagore. The day is also being observed in Santineketan. 

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid tributes to Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore on his birth anniversary.

• Mr Modi said, Gurudev Tagore manifests the best of India’s ethos of learning and expressing.

• He said, a multifaceted personality, the prose, poetry and artwork of  Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore are brilliant and thought provoking. 

• The Prime Minister said, Gurudev Tagore enhanced India’s pride and richly contributed to the freedom movement. 

 

 

• Finland held the 11th Arctic Council Ministerial Meeting in Lappi Areena, Rovaniemi, Finland. The dignitaries from the 8 Arctic States had approved the work completed under the 2-year Finnish Chairmanship to enhance sustainable development and environmental conservation in the Arctic region.

• The Arctic States were joined by delegates from the Arctic Council’s Permanent Participant organizations, the heads of the 6 Working Groups, and Observers.

• Arctic States concluded the Arctic Council Ministerial meeting by signing a joint agreement as the Arctic Council Ministers meet, passed the Chairmanship from Finland to Iceland.

• As stated in the Rovaniemi Joint Ministerial Statement, the Arctic States ensured the Council’s commitment to keep Arctic peaceful, stabile and a region for constructive cooperation.

• In the session, Finland’s Foreign Minister, Timo Soini stated the Council’s achievements and gave guidance for the upcoming 2 years.

• In the meeting, the International Maritime Organization was authorized as a new Observer.

• The 1st executive meeting of Senior Arctic Officials in the Icelandic Chairmanship will be held in June in Reykjanesbær, Iceland.

• India was re-elected as an Observer to Arctic Council and India committed to contribute more to Arctic Council. India had received the Observer status in 2013 during the Kiruna Ministerial meeting in Sweden.

• Since year 2008, India has its Arctic research station, termed as ‘Himadri’ in Svalbard, Norway.

 

 

• For the first time in India, under the ‘Honey Mission’ initiative, (KVIC) Khadi and Village Industries Commission (in less than 2 years) distributed more than 1 lakh bee-boxes among farmers and jobless youths across India.

• KVIC has helped in creating more than 10,000 new jobs and 25,000 additional man days through the manufacturing of bee boxes and honey extractors. 

• Bee-keeping would also open many job avenues for aspiring young entrepreneurs.

• In  August 2017, the initiative of ‘Honey Mission’ was launched in accordance with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s call for ‘Sweet Revolution‘ in 2016 while introducing Banas Honey project at Deesa, Gujarat.

• The KVIC had offered the beekeepers training on the effective examination of the honeybee colonies, wax purification, and management of the bee colonies.

• Being an agency of Prime Minister Employment Generation Programme (PMEGP), KVIC would offer loans for setting up honey-processing, packaging and labelling units.

• After the implementation of this mission, till date 246 metric tonnes of honey, amounting over Rs 4 crore, has been extracted through the bee-boxes.

 

 

• The National Institute of Open Schooling Ministry of Human Resources Development and National Health Mission of Public Health Department of Government of Maharashtra signed a Memorandum of Understanding in Mumbai. 

• According to a press release, the MOU focused at offering Vocational programmes to the Health Service Providers of Providers of National Health Mission (NHM) through National Institute of Open Schooling. 

• It added that the aim is to impart uniform structured and quality training to Multipurpose Health Workers Class Ill Male Health Workers and Community Health Workers followed by their assessment evaluation and certification. 

• In addition Secondary, Senior Secondary Vocational Education and Community Health Workers certification will be carried out for ASHAs.

 

 

• GRIHA Council has launched “GRIHA for Existing Day Schools” in India, to comply with the nation’s vision for a greener and sustainable future.

• “GRIHA for Existing Day Schools” is a rating device that would be able to assess the environmental performanceof the existing schools in India.

• The integrated rating system also acquaints the school students with the concepts of ‘sustainability’ and ‘greenery’ by involving them in accessing the environmental impact of schools on the environment as a whole. 

• The students would do evaluation under the guidance of their teachers.

• The product-launch event had taken place at the India Habitat Centre, New Delhi. Mr Dinesh Kumar, Head, Department of Education in Science and Mathematics, National Council of Educational Research and Training, and other dignitaries were present at during the launch.

• GRIHA Council was founded by TERI (The Energy and Resources Institute) with an active aid from the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy and from various environment- sustainability experts across India.

• It is a registered society that deals with scientific and administrative issues pertaining to the environment and sustainable habitats across India.

 

• In a bid to bolster its capabilities to tackle threats emanating from hackers, mostly from China and Pakistan, India is all set to have Defence Cyber Agency (DCA) by next month. This agency will be headquartered in the capital. 

• Senior Navy officer Rear Admiral Mohit Gupta will be the first head of this agency -- DCA.

• The work has almost been completed. A new building has been hired in the national capital which will act as the headquarters of the formation," sources in the Defence Ministry said.

• Agreed upon by the Defence Ministry and the three services, it was decided that the cyber agency would be headed by Rear Admiral Gupta. The Navy is expected to announce his formal appointment anytime, sources said.

• DCA is one of the three agencies along with the Special Forces and Space to be set up as per the clearance given by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the Combined Commanders` Conference in Jodhpur last year.

• The DCA will include a lot of existing capability from the armed forces that will help tackle threats in the cyber domain and will also have the elements of DRDO working in it, sources said.

• The Special Forces agency would be headed by a Major General rank officer of the Army and is likely to come up at Agra. Agra already has a Para brigade and the wherewithal to airlift Special Forces operatives in large numbers as the base co-exists with an Indian Air Force (IAF) transport aircraft squadron specialising in these operations. 

 

 

• Extensive safety measures have been taken by the Government with zero casualty target.  

• A massive exodus got underway in coastal Odisha as Lakhs of people left their homes in probably the largest evacuation ahead of a natural disaster in the country. 

• Our correspondent reports that the Odisha government has moved more than 11 lakh people to safety and advised the public to remain indoors.

• After crossing Odisha, cyclone Fani is likely to move towards West Bengal. It is also likely to impact parts of the northeast, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu. 

• There is a forecast of massive tides up to 1.5 metres and fishermen have been advised not to venture into the sea. Our Kolkata Correspondent reports that leaves of the Government employees in the coastal districts have cancelled. 

• NDRF Director-General said, 81 teams of NDRF has been deployed along the affected coastline. 

• The Indian Coast Guard and the Navy have deployed ships and helicopters for relief and rescue operations. Army and Air Force units in the three States have also been put on standby. 

• In neighbouring Bangladesh, the government has issued mass evacuation orders in 19 coastal districts to prevent casualties from the cyclone. The cyclone is expected to make landfall in Bangladesh after hitting Indian coastlines.

• The Home Ministry`s Control Room helpline number for Cyclone Fani 1938 is operational to provide latest information. Odisha’s emergency helpline number for Cyclone Fani is 06742534177.

• The Railways has also released helpline numbers: Bhubaneswar- (0674-2303060), Puri- 06752-225922,  Cuttack- 0671-2201865.

 

 

• Journalist Saba Naqvi has composed a book named “Politics of Jugaad: The Coalition Handbook” in which she examines the possibility of a coalition government after the 2019 Lok Sabha polls.

• The book discusses the nature of transformation in Indian political parties and their role in present times.

• The author, Saba Naqvi is a well-known journalist and political analyst in India. She has authored other books, namely, ‘In Good Faith’ (2012), ‘Capital Conquest’ (2015), and ‘Shades of Saffron’ (2018).

 

 

• In order to commemorate the 750th birth anniversary of Sri Vedanta Desikan, Vice President, M. Venkaiah Naiduunveiled a postage stamp in New Delhi on May 2, 2019. The stamp has been released by Indian postal department.

• The releasing of commemorative postage stamps inspire the younger generation to practice humanism, peace and compassion propagated by the great saint and spiritual icon.

• Born in 1268 CE, he was Sri Vaishnava philosopher and one of the most brilliant stalwarts of Sri Vaishnavism in the post-Ramanuja period. He was an awardee of Vedanta Desika (supreme teacher of the conclusion of all knowledge).  He also received titles such as ‘Kavitarkika-kesari’ and ‘Kavitarkika-simham’ (lion amongst poets); and ‘Ramanuja-daya-patram’. The most essential feature of his philosophy is the ‘aspect of inclusion’ which means anyone, irrespective of any caste or creed could join Sri Vaishnava fold. he basis of his spiritual teachings was peace and humanity.

 

 

• Election Commission has rejected a plea to advance commencement of polls during the last three phases of the Lok Sabha elections to 5 AM instead of 7 AM due to Ramzan. 

• The Supreme Court had directed the Election Commission to take a call on a plea seeking to advance the voting timing to 5 AM for the remaining phases of the Lok Sabha elections due to heat waves and Ramzan.

• According to the poll panel, the polling hour which is 11 hours is long enough against the statutory eight hours for the convenience of all sections of the society and it does not find it feasible to alter the existing hours for polling for the 5th, 6th and 7th phase. 

• The sixth and seventh phase is on 12th and 19th of this month.

• The EC had set up a committee of officers on the issue.

• Campaigning has intensified for the remaining two phases of Lok Sabha elections. 

• Top leaders of various political parties are holding rallies and road shows in different parts of the country. 

 

 

• The Indian government had earlier proposed a special green-coloured number plate for all-electric vehicles in the country.

• Indian government had earlier proposed a special green-coloured number plate for all electric vehicles in the country. Putting the year old plan in action, the Central government has now asked the state transport departments to make it mandatory for all EVs to use the green number plates, irrespective of the year in which they were bought.

• The special number plate is supposed to have the vehicle number spelled out in white colour on a green background. The new mandate is supposed to help provide a preferential treatment to the vehicles with no carbon emissions, like parking, free entry in congested areas as well as a concessional toll on highways.

• With the introduction of the second phase of FAME - Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of (Hybrid &) Electric Vehicles scheme back in February this year, the centre had announced multiple incentives for EV users and makers alike through a total allocated budget of Rs 10,000 crore. These will be used in the form of subsidies to the buyers as well as to those manufacturing electric vehicles in the country, with at least 50% indigenous production.

• The allotted budget under the FAME-II will also be used to set up an EV infrastructure across the country, including charging stations. With the second phase of the FAME scheme, the government aims to support 1 million e-two-wheelers, 500,000 e-three-wheelers, 55,000 e-four-wheelers and 7,000 e-buses. Subsequently, around 7200 charging stations will be put up across major cities of India.

 

 

• The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Indore enters in the top 50 Times Higher Education (THE) Asia University Rankings.

• It has yet again pipped its older peers like IIT Bombay, Delhi, and Madras to be the only IIT to rank.

• The latest rankings, however, have seen the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) Bengaluru maintain its lead position at 29th, same as last year.

• On the other hand, IIT Bombay which ranked 44 last year, fell 10 places to be ranked at 54th position this year.

• Indian Institute of Technology Indore (IIT Indore or IITI), located in Madhya Pradesh, is one of the Institutes of Technology established by the Government of India in 2009.[1][2] It is one of the eight new Indian Institutes of Technology (IIT) established by theMinistry of Human Resource Development, Government of India under The Institutes of Technology (Amendment) Act, 2011 which declares eight new IITs as well as the conversion of Institute of Technology, Banaras Hindu University to IIT.

 

 

• A Special Purpose Vehicle under the Ministry of Electronics & IT, (Information Technology) CSC (Common Services Centre) e-Governance Services India Limited, has partnered with the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT)Kanpur to upscale ‘Unnat Bharat Abhiyan’.

• ‘Unnat Bharat Abhiyan project’ is being led by Dr. Reeta Singh, from IIT Kanpur.

• ‘ Unnat Bharat Abhiyan’ is the programme of the HRD (Human Resource Development) Ministry which is working towards achieving solutions for increasing sustainable growth in rural India.

• IIT-Kanpur has brought together 15 leading higher education institutions from UP (Uttar Pradesh) to work together with CSC, under this policy, for the villages’ development.

• Through CSCs, they will adopt gram panchayats and equip themselves with citizen-centric services.

 

 

• The Confederation of Indian Industry(CII) has notified certain observations regarding second phase of the Faster Adoption and Manufacture of (Hybrid and) Electric Vehicles in India (FAME India). 

• It has observed that India can save 64% of anticipated road-based mobility-related energy demand and 37% of carbon emissions by 2030. 

• The reduction in energy demands would lead in the reduction of 156 million tonnes of oil equivalent in diesel and petrol consumption and net savings of approximately $60 billion in 2030 at current oil rates. This will boost the India’s vision of reducing oil imports by 10% by 2022.

• The tentative aim is to have 30% electric vehicles by 2030 and the electric vehicle penetration in India is currently at 1%. Therefore, CII added that FAME alone is not enough to reach the 2030 target.

• If transport has to be eco friendly, it must increase its share of renewable along with environmentally sustainable batteries. As per CII, transport continues to be the highest oil consuming sector and the use of diesel and petrol grew at 5.9% and 9.9% respectively in the last decade. 

• As per government’s estimates, the country’s import dependency on oil has increased to 83.7% in the 10-month period of FY 2019 from 78.3% of total consumption in 2014-15.

• The government has allocated Rs.10,000 cr  for FAME-II which is Rs.895 cr higher than allocated for FAME-I.

• The CII suggested to boost the domestic manufacturing of vehicles, components and batteries, along with skill development across the value chain, and the strategic sourcing of key raw material.

 

 

• Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has said that Central Govt will provide manpower,  machine, material and money for restoration work in cyclone FANI affected areas in Odisha.  

• Visiting the cyclone-affected areas in Odisha, Prime Minister said that 1000 crore rupees financial assistance will be given to Odisha.

• Before the cyclone, 381 crore rupees assistance in advance was declared by the  Prime Minister. 

• After an areal survey of the cyclone-affected areas. Prime Minister said that whatever will be required for restoration and rehabilitation work, Center will not hesitate to provide it as assistance. 

• He also said that a team of officials of Prime Minister`s Office will camp in  Bhubaneswar for the supervision of the reconstruction work. 

• Prime Minister praised the fishermen of the community of Odisha for their high level of awareness about cyclone so that the casualty was minimised. 

• Eastern Command of Indian Navy is now providing relief materials at cyclone-affected areas of Puri and Khurda districts. 

• Three helicopters and three vessels are deployed for relief work. The doctors of Navy are providing medical assistance to the injured in camp hospitals.